Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Migration flyway of the Mediterranean breeding Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis emigratus

Hamza, Abdulmaula; Baccetti, Nicola; Sultana, Joe; Yahia, Jaber; Zantello, Marco; de Faveri, Adriano; Cutts, Nick; Borg, John; Azafzaf, Hichem; Defos du Rau, Pierre; Bourass, Esam; Etayeb, Khaled; Elliott, Michael

Authors

Abdulmaula Hamza

Nicola Baccetti

Joe Sultana

Jaber Yahia

Marco Zantello

Adriano de Faveri

Nick Cutts

John Borg

Hichem Azafzaf

Pierre Defos du Rau

Esam Bourass

Khaled Etayeb

Profile Image

Professor Mike Elliott Mike.Elliott@hull.ac.uk
Emeritus Professor of Estuarine and Coastal Sciences/ Research Professor, Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Studies



Abstract

© 2016 NISC (Pty) Ltd. The Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis emigratus breeding population in the Mediterranean is found exclusively in Libya, on the two coastal islands of Gara and Elba and one wetland on the mainland coast at Benghazi. In order to improve knowledge of the species migration to wintering quarters in West Africa, a ringing programme was conducted from 2006–2008 and 2009–2012. From a total of 1 354 nestlings ringed using metal and/or colour rings, 64 were recovered along their flyway and in their wintering range, representing 6.9% of birds ringed with both colour and metal rings. This provided the opportunity to collect information on post-natal movements (staging and wintering ranges), breeding philopatry and recruitment, in addition to a preliminary estimate of their migration journey duration. This paper indicates sighting and recovery distributions in space and time, highlighting the important areas for the species during its journey between breeding and wintering sites. The findings indicate that several areas where ringed terns stop-over during pre- and post-breeding migration journeys are not protected, causing an additional threat to their survival, as some wintering areas are also not protected. Conservation of this highly localised and threatened population needs not only to address protection at breeding sites but also at migratory stop-overs and wintering strongholds.

Citation

Hamza, A., Baccetti, N., Sultana, J., Yahia, J., Zantello, M., de Faveri, A., …Elliott, M. (2017). Migration flyway of the Mediterranean breeding Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis emigratus. The Ostrich, 88(1), 53-58. https://doi.org/10.2989/00306525.2016.1231139

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Aug 20, 2016
Online Publication Date Dec 27, 2016
Publication Date Mar 31, 2017
Deposit Date Oct 29, 2018
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Ostrich
Print ISSN 0030-6525
Electronic ISSN 1727-947X
Publisher Taylor and Francis
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 88
Issue 1
Pages 53-58
DOI https://doi.org/10.2989/00306525.2016.1231139
Keywords Breeding, Lesser Crested Tern, Libya, Migration, Ringing, West Africa
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/532006
Publisher URL https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.2989/00306525.2016.1231139

Files








You might also like



Downloadable Citations